Palladium catalyzed direct oxidation of benzene with molecular oxygen to phenol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.63.438

Direct phenol synthesis from benzene is currently one of the most important problems in modern chemistry. We have reported new phenol synthesis from benzene and O₂ via direct activation of a C-H aromatic bond by the Pd(OAc)₂/phenanthroline catalyst system. The evidence for direct oxidation of benzene by O₂ was obtained using ¹⁸O and ²H isotopes. The mechanism was proposed on the basis of these results and the reactions of Ph-Pd σ complex intermediates.